Google enables Binging background images
By Thomas Ricker 
posted June 10th 2010 2:03AM
posted June 10th 2010 2:03AM
posted June 10th 2010 2:03AM
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This was available yesterday... as a link in the bottom left, now they selected one image..
@TechAndOnlyTech
"Google just flipped the switch letting you decorate your Google.com landing page "
they just flipped the switch, or did they flip the switch on 6/2, more than a week ago...
http://techcrunch.com/2010/06/02/google-bing-like-backgrounds/
oh btw,
5/6/2010
http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/06/google-redundant-ui/
google adds left-side filters that mimicks bing's left-side filters
@GoogleCopiesBing Yeah...I guess engadget doesn't check their email tipline because I sent them a note about this a week ago. They probably needed to verify with techcrunch first...
@TechAndOnlyTech
Steve Jobs will relate this to porn in 3... 2... 1...
@TechAndOnlyTech
flipped the switch for the entire world not just the US.
@Eli Haj
I go to google practically every day, and this wasn't available to me until yesterday. Don't know why but perhaps could be said the same for Engadget?
@GoogleCopiesBing
Dont count on Engadget keeping up w/ (other) news during the first 2 weeks of June.
Google playing catch-up.
@Goaliegeek Catch up?!
For real? :P
The only thing I liked about bing now Google has... And I am scared sh1tless of Google's appetite for my data.
@Goaliegeek Can't detect sarcasm but i wouldn't call it catch up as much as copying. Google was never at a disadvantage, search wise, without the background but it is definitely appealing as hell. Bing never caught on with me but the pictures actually made me consider it until i realized how much i missed google (fanboy).
@Goaliegeek
It's more like Google is pulling a Nero. Brand suicide.
Doesn't feel like google anymore...
@hsc True, but then I am on iGoogle and Chrome, so hardly need that page for anything.
@NewBie That's true, I rarely use the actual google page, mostly just the search field in my browser. It's more of an unnecessary middle step nowadays.
@NewBie
yeah really, atleast its white by default.
@hsc I hate it! I was always so happy to do searching from my cel without worrying about a stupid bandwidth hogging BG. I agree, it doesn't feel like Google any more - it needs a "Gimme the old plain-Jane BG!" button.
@AniMill They don't exactly force you to use it...
Just?
I've had this for about a week (if not more) already...am I missing something?
@JustRuin
yep.. you are missing the fact that engadget editors want to travel in time machine, so that they can still say iPhone is best! :-)
@TechAndOnlyTech
flipped the switch for the entire "globe"
@Smarty2600 Yeah, I saw what they meant on Gizmodo. Didn't realize they were just testing it.
Didn't Google say in the past few months that pictures distract you from the purpose of searching? Way to back pedal and follow Bing Google!
@ahigee - Damned straight. Am I the only one that hates that shit? One of the things I always liked about Google was the clean, non cluttered background. One of the reason's I've never been able to stand using Bing. Yes, I know it's customizeable, but when you are constantly using other people's machines it's annoying as hell when you want to go do a simple search. Wish they'd all turn that shite off by default and let those who feel like they need decorations on their search engine to make them special, do so on their own. I see that as the smarter thing, but maybe I'm just out of touch with what everyone else prefers.
@ahigee
We're going back to the Hotbot days with ugly search engines. Yay.
@xanatos451 "Wish they'd all turn that shite off by default and let those who feel like they need decorations on their search engine to make them special, do so on their own."
Uhh it IS off by default (white) and those who want decorations ARE doing it on their own... if youre using someone elses computer and browser how can you be complaining
No!
Damn why do they keep changing their perfectly good ui?!
They instead should have released a feature to disabled background images on bing >_
@Fugo uh, you don't have to use the feature.
@Fugo by which i mean i bet they'll remove the background by default once they think most people are aware of it.
@maveric101
I would not have been posting a text against this "feature" when there'd be possibility to turn it off.
"i bet they'll remove the background by default once they think most people are aware of it"
I really hope so. But the anoying left sidebar is still there as well!
@Fugo
This is a pain in the ass but it goes back to white if you disable Javascript for google.com or .ca at least in Firefox 3.63. Unfortunately, I don't know of a way to just block Javascript on Google and not screw up every other normal site too...Anyone have a suggestion to just blacklist Google?
@Chaosdivine
Another temporary fix is to go to https://www.google.com/
You need the entire URL including the www or else it redirects you.
.ca doesn't work either.
@Chaosdivine
Firefox - right click > view page info > permissions > load images > block
(I learned something today...)
This is weird. I don't like it!
Now if only I could get this working on mobile.
Since i don't lile to be always logged in at the google.com, just to change my background, i found a workaround.
If you use Firefox with adblock just add a new filter to it: http://www.google.com/images/background/*
@Fugo orrrr on the bottom left there's a link that says remove background image, and everything comes back to normal..........
@Sizzmo
In Germany background removes you...
No wait. I meant: this option seems not to be available here. All I can do is change it to another image...
May this be over in 12 hours ^-^
@Sizzmo
That feature is not available in my location. So you're lucky...
its really annoying that google is using their own background images on a timed loop... i really like the ORIGINAL WHITE BG GOOGLE (and yes uploading your own white image doesn't work so well... you dont get the nice Google in colors)
Chromium OS is coming along. Google search is the only thing you will see as your desktop =) and people do want desktop pictures with their photos -> hence google background now supports pictures / photos from the web & picasa.
@xnox thank you... that makes a lot of sense!
Oh and the flip the switch thing is that you get it by default instead of white without customising it.
Not that you can select and keep just one you like.
@xnox
Its almost too bad no one will see it, since every modern browser since 2003 has had Google search built right into the browser toolbar.
But it looks terrific.
@Wesscoast
I love the fact that all of the "editor" pics are high-res pics publically available on the webpicasa, so you can download all of those images for your regular desktop =)
Now if only someone rights a GNOME desktop wallpaper changer using these....... =)
@Technologeee
it wasnt well written. for example, for cameras, they concluded htc evo was better simply because it had more megapixels. are you kidding? this isnt the 90s when megapixels were everything
@DefPoet
haha iseewhatyoudidthere :]
*searches through big boob images for background* :D
*now realizes he uses his google account plenty of times at work* :(
*sigh*
@GoogleCopiesBing
if you read it, you'll see how they said "for now", because they haven't actually been able to compare the iphone's and the evo's cameras. they specifically said that for pure specs, evo wins.
it was there two days ago in the uk, but then it disappeared. now it's back
@DefPoet
Lmao nice, its the perfect combo.
btw,... WTF .. Nude witch??
and XP?...
Download Windows 7 already guy!!